Chapter 68: Fleeting Like a White Colt Crossing a Gap

Zhou Xuanhong threw himself completely into the study of formations, sacrificing sleep and food. This was a lengthy journey, one that demanded accumulation over time. If there were prodigies in alchemy who could become second-grade alchemists within a year, then the path of formations offered no shortcuts. It was a process of building experience, requiring one percent talent and ninety-nine percent effort.

Unlike alchemy, where switching to a startling new technique could drastically improve the quality of pills, or changing the fire or cauldron might enhance their color and potency, the art of formations relied solely on the soul and understanding of the craft. Mastery could only come through relentless study and the passage of years.

Zhou Xuanhong secluded himself, activating every formation outside his chamber. Even if Xuan Qizi arrived, he would be unable to force his way in; only Zhou Xuanhong himself could lift the barrier.

Thanks to the Divine Imprint, Zhou Xuanhong’s affairs caused little concern. Attention turned to the myriad matters of the sect. The current Xingyan Sect was beset by troubles—external threats and internal dangers. All energy was devoted to these crises, leaving Zhou Xuanhong to his own devices. If he ever sensed a plot and fled, the Divine Imprint would ensure his return.

Time slipped away, day by day, month by month, year by year. In the world of cultivation, years were both precious and negligible. Most cultivators longed for longevity, every advancement bringing extended lifespan, but a single period of seclusion could see years pass, with all the outside upheavals fading into mist and memory.

Year after year, new generations of gifted children were recruited into Xingyan Sect, restoring its vitality. The sect’s pathways teemed with people, and within its boundaries, seasons felt like spring, while outside, the world cycled through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, unnoticed as time flowed.

In the fifth year of Zhou Xuanhong’s retreat, Kong Xiaori and Kong Xiaoyue simultaneously broke through to the Golden Core stage. At that moment, a supreme power tore open the spatial barrier and appeared above Xingyan Sect’s dome, whisking the siblings away.

The arrival of this mighty figure caused all beasts to bow and snow to retreat, as if an emperor had descended and the world itself bowed as a vassal. Unconcerned with Xingyan Sect’s affairs, even the tyrant of the Nameless Region, the Yin Corpse Sect, withdrew its aura and behaved as meekly as students fearing a teacher’s reproof.

The visit was swift and so was the departure. After taking Kong Xiaori and Kong Xiaoyue, the supreme being vanished without a trace, as if nothing had ever happened.

As a result, the Yin Corpse Sect ceased its covert actions against Xingyan Sect. Without clarity on the relationship between the supreme power and Xingyan Sect, they dared not act recklessly. A single finger from such a being could erase the Yin Corpse Sect, turning millennia of foundation to dust in an instant.

This bought Xingyan Sect vital time for growth. Over the next five years, leveraging the World Pearl, they cultivated batch after batch of Foundation Establishment disciples. Fresh blood flowed in, the sect lowered its thresholds, and a flood of Qi Refining disciples restored Xingyan Sect’s former glory.

But gain was matched by loss. The Yin Corpse Sect grew rapidly. Once convinced the supreme power would not protect Xingyan Sect, they resumed their machinations. Disputes among disciples grew fierce, and deaths became a daily occurrence.

Not only did battles rage between the two sects, but the Songshan Sword Pavilion and Five Spirits Pill Valley joined in, as did many surrounding forces. Missions beyond the sect became ever more perilous.

A great war between Xingyan Sect and Yin Corpse Sect loomed. The Songshan Sword Pavilion, using Li Li’s status as pretext, joined Xingyan Sect’s alliance. The Five Spirits Pill Valley, unable to openly join the fight, provided logistical support to Yin Corpse Sect, selling pills at low prices to boost their disciples’ combat capabilities.

Ten years saw the Yin Corpse Sect and the Fierce Ghost Sect fully integrated, their combined strength multiplied. With ghosts merging into corpse puppets, the puppets grew stronger, and the ghost sect disciples, hiding among Yin Corpse Sect ranks, became nearly impossible to kill, a thorn in every battle.

Without support from sword cultivators, Xingyan Sect, already weaker, would have been confined within its gates, struggling to survive. Even so, the sect suffered, as the number of sword cultivators paled in comparison to Yin Corpse Sect. As the latter gained the upper hand, Five Spirits Pill Valley cultivators also lent their aid.

As time passed, without reinforcement, Xingyan Sect faced imminent peril; a sect-wide war was about to erupt.

Within Xingyan Sect, a decade had not changed the buildings; all remained as before, except that the aroma of spiritual delicacies by the little creek disappeared.

Xuan Qizi and Liu Xiang remained stuck at the peak of the Golden Core stage, unable to step into Nascent Soul. Just a hair’s breadth away, they could not advance. Should anyone show signs of breaking through, besides facing tribulation, they would attract covetous wolves, and the great war would explode.

Below them, Xu Yuan advanced to mid Golden Core, but instead of joy, she was troubled, though others assumed she worried for the sect’s future.

Another elder broke through to late Golden Core, filling the vacancy of Second Elder, and several others made progress. Yet two elders were lost: one to old age, another to battle with a Yin Corpse Sect elder.

Luo Tuan and Li Li were close in cultivation, but their combat prowess diverged. Li Li’s sword grew dull, as if countless invisible threads pulled at it.

Yet Li Li often wore a happy smile, for Qiao Yixue had joined him as Dao companions, following Luo Tuan and Xu Yuan as the second pair of Golden Core Dao partners.

As Luo Tuan and Xu Yuan wed before all disciples, Qiao Yixue gave up her feelings for Luo Tuan and chose the gentle, devoted Li Li.

The two couples became popular within the sect, inspiring a wave of Dao companion pairings. Xuan Qizi, seeking to bind Songshan Sword Pavilion to Xingyan Sect, encouraged many female disciples to ally with the sword cultivators, unaware how futile his efforts were.

Though Xingyan Sect lost the pill support of Five Spirits Pill Valley, disciples did not lack medicines, as the Alchemy Hall of the Auxiliary Hall strove to meet demand.

This owed much to Xu Yuhan’s wholehearted dedication to training pill-making disciples, recruiting those with talent over ten years, nurturing them with care, and combining methods learned from Five Spirits Pill Valley. The Alchemy Hall became the largest and most skilled among auxiliary disciples, filling the gap in medicinal supply.

Yet as external conflicts intensified, pill consumption surged, and soon production could not keep pace.

Among the disciples, Mao Yishan, Ran Ziyu, and Qiao Yixue all reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, joining Luo Tuan and Li Li as leading figures among the inner disciples. Mao Yishan especially shone as a rising star, his spells fierce and battle experience ruthless; over ten years, he slew more than thirty Yin Corpse Sect disciples and even wounded a Golden Core, earning the title of Senior Brother of the inner sect.

His junior Jiang Ti also advanced to Foundation Establishment within ten years, and unexpectedly forged an Earth Spirit foundation, drawing attention from the sect’s leadership. Xuan Qizi took him as a true disciple, showering him with resources. At only twenty, he was already a mid-level Foundation Establishment expert, hailed as a prodigy.

Moreover, after Zhou Xuanhong planted a seed of loyalty to the sect in him, and under Xuan Qizi’s guidance, Jiang Ti became a devoted, passionate disciple, often used as a role model. His courage and dedication won him many admirers among the female disciples.

Yi Xiaozhi, who once recruited Zhou Xuanhong, left Wall Pass Cliff two years after Zhou Xuanhong’s seclusion, reaching late Foundation Establishment and becoming a formidable disciple. Upon emerging, he became exceptionally cautious and clever, slaying many Yin Corpse Sect disciples.

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Far away in the City Lord’s mansion of Free City, the old Black Ghost Daoist and Gu Zhen shared tea and laughter, appearing to chat about family matters, but their conversation, upon close listening, revealed schemes targeting all the major sects.

Black Ghost Daoist frowned, saying, “That kid might be dead. My informant in Xingyan Sect reports he hasn’t left seclusion yet. Who knows what he’s up to?”

Gu Zhen chuckled, “No rush, no rush. He won’t die; he’s shrewder than anyone. If he hasn’t emerged, he must be planning the small world.”

“How are you so certain?”

Gu Zhen snorted, “Ten years ago, that kid ruined all my plans. I was orchestrating a beast tide, and he intervened. I wasn’t sure before, but now, after such long seclusion, what else could he be plotting if not the small world?”

Black Ghost Daoist laughed, “To think he could put you in a bind! He’s truly remarkable. What should we do? We don’t know when he’ll come out; acting rashly would be unwise.”

Gu Zhen replied coolly, “Wait. I’m not in a hurry, but you should be. Can you still laugh with your Fierce Ghost Sect nearly merged with Yin Corpse Sect? Even if you defeat Xingyan Sect, are you sure Yin Corpse Sect will share the territory?”

Black Ghost Daoist cackled, “No need to worry, I have my own plans.”

Gu Zhen rose, flexing his limbs, his fighting spirit surging. “It’s hunting time again. Ever since we teamed up to kill that Liu Su, we’ve kept the conflict between Xingyan Sect and Yin Corpse Sect’s Golden Core stage in check. But this interference can’t go on forever. We need to prompt Zhou Xuanhong to end his seclusion; if he stays longer, the war will be impossible to contain.”